Probiotics have been extensively studied for their health-promoting effects. The main field of research has been in the gastrointestinal tract. Now-a-day's probiotics are widely investigated in oral health perspective. In this review, we will discuss about the history, suggestive mechanism of action, their role in the prevention of oral diseases, administration of probiotics, their safety aspects, and adverse effects.

Denture esthetics is the effect produced by a denture that affects beauty and attractiveness of a person. It is blending or combination of art and science of prosthodontics. The loss of oral structures primarily affects the appearance of the lower part of the face. The appearance of the entire lower half of the face depends on dentures in edentulous patients. Denture esthetics does not begin and end with selection of denture teeth, factors such as impression technique, occlusal plane, vertical dimension, and centric relation also significantly affect denture esthetics. The dentist must consider esthetic guidelines to achieve esthetics for complete denture.

Morphological study of accessory foramina in mandible and its clinical implication

p. 12

Seema Gupta, Anshu Soni, Poonam SinghDOI:10.4103/0976-6944.118512

Background: To provide anatomical information on the position and incidence of accessory foramina in mandible as they are important for dental surgeons and anesthetists in achieving complete nerve blocks and for avoiding injury to neurovascular structures passing through them.
Materials and Methods: Fifty dried adult human mandibles of Indian origin were scrutinized in a regular manner with a magnifying glass. The accessory foramina and their positions were observed.
Results: The accessory lingual foramen may be regarded as a constant finding with incidence of 88%. Frequency of infraspinous was lower than this (i.e., 70%) and that of lateral spinous was 28%. Accessory mandibular foramina were found in 48%, accessory mental in 22%, and retromolar in 18% of the cases.
Conclusion: Macroscopic observations revealed the presence of accessory foramina in most of the investigated mandibles. The anatomical variability of incidence and position of accessory foramina should be considered as they may be used to give additional locoregional anesthesia in case of failed mandibular blocks. Knowledge of the commonest positions will be beneficial for oncologists and oromaxillofacial surgeons in planning graft implants.

Aim: To assess the oral hygiene and periodontal status of a group of mentally and physically challenged people living in a specialized institution in Mohali, Punjab, India.
Materials and Methods: Study sample comprised of 100 subjects who were either mentally challenged, physically challenged, or both, living in the All India Pingalwara Society, Palsora, Mohali, Punjab. Oral hygiene status was assessed by simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and marginal line calculus index (MLCI). A comparison was made between mentally challenged and physically challenged groups. Analysis of variance and chi square tests were applied.
Results: Of the 100 subjects included, the mentally challenged group had the worst oral hygiene scores. The mean OHI-S scores of mentally challenged, physically challenged, and both mentally and physically challenged groups were 4.956 (standard deviation, 1.236), 2.581 (1.491), and 4.819 (1.752), respectively. The mean MLCI scores of mentally challenged, physically challenged, and both mentally and physically challenged groups were 77.972 (23.778), 30.529 (25.083), and 75.595 (31.181), respectively.
Conclusion: This study highlights the poor oral hygiene status of the study population. The oral hygiene levels were worst in the mentally challenged group. The social services, public health authorities, and dental professionals should come together to improve this condition.

Introduction: Teeth are an excellent material in living population for anthropological, genetic, odontologic, and forensic investigations. Of them, canines are considered to be the key teeth for personal identification, also mandibular canine are least impacted as compared to maxillary canine.
Aim: The present study was undertaken to access the accuracy of the sexual dimorphism using canine indexing in a Punjabi population.
Materials and Methods: A sample size of 250 individuals was taken and their canine indexing was done.
Results: No significant statistical differences were noted in intercanine width, Observed Mandibular canine index while mandibular canine width showed significant values in sexing Punjabi pouplation.
Conclusion: Statistical analysis revealed that MCI was not a significant parameter in assessing sexual dimorphism.

Aims: This study was done to determine caries prevalence and corresponding treatment needs in 12- and 15-year-old school children of Ludhiana city.
Materials and Methods: A total of 2,500 school children were selected randomly and caries along with its treatment needs was recorded according to World Health Organization (WHO) index (1997).
Results: Caries was found to be 81.36% with mean decayed, extracted, filled tooth/decayed, missing, filled tooth (deft/DMFT) and decayed, extracted, filled tooth surfaces/decayed, missing, filled tooth surfaces (defs/DMFS) scores being 0.89 deft, 2.74 DMFT, 1.21 defs, and 3.61 DMFS in 12 years age group. In the 15 years age group, caries was 86.16% with a mean DMFT of 4.21 and a mean DMFS of 5.38. Females were found to have higher caries prevalence than males in both age groups. Treatment needs evaluation revealed that need for one surface restoration was the maximum followed by two or more surface restorations.
Conclusion: Dental caries prevalence figures along with high deft/DMFT and defs/DMFS indicate that in spite of increased number of dental facilities available nowadays, caries is yet not under control in this area; and there is need for implementation of preventive programs and creating awareness of public health measures.

Aim: The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of anterior tooth trauma (ATT) in school children between the age range of 10 and 17 years of Barwala, Panchkula, India.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 1052 (585 boys and 467 girls) government and private school children. The data regarding the traumatic injuries to anterior teeth along with various risk factors were recorded using the Ellis and the Davey's classification. Statistical analysis was carried out by the Chi-square test.
Results: Prevalence of ATT was found to be 18.25%. Out of which 53.1% were boys, whereas 46.9% girls, gender difference was not related with the occurrence of type of fracture (P = 0.227). The prevalence of ATT in government and private school children is 12.4% and 16.8%, respectively. The prevalence of Ellis class I fracture was 83.9%, and class II was 12.5%. Majority of ATT were untreated (98.4%), and the type of treatment given was related to the occurrence of the type of fracture (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Overjet and overbite more than 3 mm were found to be important contributing factors for type of traumatic dental injuries (P = 0.013 and 0.037, respectively).

Ectopic lingual thyroid (LT) is a rare anomaly representing faulty migration of normal thyroid gland. Twelve-year-old female child presented with a small virtually asymptomatic swelling on the base of the tongue. Investigations revealed only functioning LT and subclinical hypothyroidism. Oral levothyroxine caused appreciable shrinkage of the lingual swelling and she became euthyriod state. Embryology, diagnosis, and management of the case are described.

Loss of anterior teeth can be traumatic to the patient both psychologically and socially. The anterior teeth protect entire stomatognathic system by discluding posterior teeth during jaw movements, phenomenon called as anterior guidance. Anterior guidance should be established with extreme caution while restoring anterior teeth as even slight error in this regard can have detrimental effects on entire stomatognathic system. The article deals with step by step protocol of establishing anterior guidance during restoration of mandibular anterior teeth.

Coronally repositioned flap with highly purified resorbable membrane for treatment of gingival recession: A report of two cases

p. 48

Nandini Bhaskar, Vipin ChhabraDOI:10.4103/0976-6944.118549

Gingival recession is one of the most common aesthetic and functional concerns associated with periodontal tissues. Other associated problems include plaque retention, gingival bleeding, and abrasion, pain due to cervical dentine hypersensitivity, root caries and fear of tooth loss. This article highlights on 2 cases treated with coronally repositioned flap with highly purified resorbable membrane for gingival coverage. Two patients with Millers's ClassII gingival recession with respect to anteriors reported to the department O.P.D were selected. The clinical parameters were recorded - probing depth, clinical attachment level and gingival recession. The clinical recordings were done at baseline, 3 months and 6 months follow-ups. As compared to baseline full gingival coverage was gained in first case and was stable till 6 months follow-up. In second case a gingival coverage of 3 mm as compared to baseline was gained and was stable till 6 months follow-up. Coronally repositioned flap combined with bilayer collagen membrane is a safe and effective method for the coverage of denuded root surfaces.